Kumihimo braiding stand

ABSTRACT

A kumihimo braiding stand is provided. The stand includes a base formed to support the stand in an upright position. The present invention includes at least one dowel having a top end and a bottom end. The bottom end is secured to the base. A support ring includes a substantially flat upper surface. The lower surface of the support ring secures to the top end of the dowel. The support ring includes a circular outer edge and a circular inner edge forming an opening within. The opening is positioned to align with an opening of a kumihimo braiding disc. The present invention further includes a connector operable to releasably connect the kumihimo braiding disc to the upper surface of the support ring.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 61/990,489, filed May 8, 2014, the contents of which areherein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to braiding and, more particularly, to akumihimo braiding stand.

Kumihimo is a Japanese form of braid-making. Cords and ribbons are madeby interlacing strands. A braiding disc is a disc with a slotted edgethat aids in the creation of the kumihimo braids. The kumihimo braidingcords get tangled when the braiding disk is laid down onto a tabletop.Marudai are used to aid with braiding. However, traditional marudai arenot portable and do not retain the braiding disks.

As can be seen, there is a need for a portable elevated support used toaid in the preparation of kumihimo bracelets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a kumihimo braiding standcomprises: a substantially flat base formed to support the stand in anupright position; at least one dowel comprising a bottom end and a topend, wherein the bottom end is secured to the base; a support ringcomprising a substantially flat upper surface and a lower surfacesecured to the at least one dowel, wherein the support ring comprises aninner edge forming an opening positioned to align with an opening of akumihimo braiding disc; and a connector operable to releasably connectthe kumihimo braiding disc to the upper surface of the support ring.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present inventionshown in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective detail view of an embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective detail view of the present inventionillustrating the connector of the cup.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention includes a portable stand that holds kumihimobraiding disks and tools. The present invention is compact and portable.The present invention provides a place for the kumihimo braiding disk torest, keeping the braiding cords untangled, as well as allowing the userto interchange braiding disks. The present invention also providesstorage for tools and supplies and may include a built-in ruler along anedge of the base for easy measuring.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 8, the present invention includes akumihimo braiding stand. The stand includes a base 10 formed to supportthe stand in an upright position. The present invention includes atleast one dowel 14 having a top end and a bottom end. The bottom end issecured to the base 10. A support ring 12 includes a substantially flatupper surface. The lower surface of the support ring 12 secures to thetop end of the dowel 14. The support ring 12 includes a circular outeredge and a circular inner edge forming an opening within. The opening isposition to align with an opening of a kumihimo braiding disc 24. Thepresent invention further includes a connector 26, 30 operable toreleasably connect the kumihimo braiding disc 24 to the upper surface ofthe support ring 12.

The base 10 of the present invention may include a substantially flatbottom and a substantially flat top. The flat bottom may rest on asurface to support the stand in the upright position. The base 10 may berectangular in shape so that a portion of the upper surface secures thesupport ring 12 and another portion of the upper surface may secureadditional accessories. In certain embodiments, the base 10 may includea foam sheet 20 attached to the bottom surface. The foam sheet 20prevents scratching and scuffing of both the stand and any surface thestand is resting on. Further, the foam sheet 20 prevents the stand fromsliding on the surface.

In certain embodiments, a plurality of dowels 14, such as four dowels14, may secure the supporting ring 12 to the base 10. The supportingring 12 may include apertures 38 to receive the top ends of the dowels14 and the base 10 may include apertures 36 to receive the bottom endsof the dowels 14. The dowels 14 may be standard wooden dowels that aresecured on the base 10 in a vertical position. In certain embodiments,the present invention may include a separate dowel 16 to holdaccessories. In such embodiments, the separate dowel 16 is secured tothe base 10 at a separate portion from the support ring 12, and isthereby separate from the support ring 12. A user may place and stackbobbins 32 onto the separate dowel 16.

The support ring 12 of the present invention may include a diameterslightly less than a standard kumihimo braiding disc 24. In certainembodiments, the present invention may include a circular foam sheet 22.The foam sheet 22 may be secured to an upper surface of the support ring12. In such embodiments, the connector 26, 30 is operable to releasablyconnect the kumihimo braiding disc 24 to the foam sheet 22. In certainembodiments, the connector 26, 30 may include hook fasteners 26 securedto the foam sheet 22 and loop fasteners 30 connected to the kumihimobraiding disc 24 or vice versa. However, the connector 26, 30 is notlimited to a hook and loop fastener, and may include any connector 26,30 operable to releasably secure the disc 24 to the foam sheet 22.

In certain embodiments, the present invention may further include a cup18 connected to the upper surface of the base 10. The cup 18 may be usedto house tools 34 within. In certain embodiments, the cup 18 isreleasably attachable to the upper surface of the base 10. For example,the cup 18 may include a hook fastener 40 and the base 10 may include aloop fastener 28 or vice versa. The cup 18 may thereby releasablyconnect with the upper surface of the base 10.

A method of making the present invention may include the following.Using a power drill and a 2″ cut-out drill bit, drill out a 2″ hole inthe center of the 5″ wooden circle. Drill four ¼″ deep holes with thepower drill and 3/16″ paddle bit, spaced evenly into the underside ofthe 5″ wooden circle. Then drill four ¼″ deep holes with the power drilland 3/16″ paddle drill bit at one end of the wooden rectanglecorresponding to the location of the four holes drilled into the 5″wooden circle. The four 7½″ wooden dowels are glued into the pre-drilledholes in the wooden rectangle base and into the wood circle with woodglue to create the elevated circle on which to mount the braiding disk.Use the level to square up the wooden circle with the wooden rectanglebase. Drill another ¼″ deep hole into the rectangle base in the lowerright corner at 1″ in from both edges with the power drill and 3/16″drill bit. Using the wood glue, glue the 6″ wooden dowel into therectangular base to attach a dowel to hold the braiding bobbins. Use thelevel to square up this peg. Let the wood glue dry for 24 hours. Applythe golden oak wood stain to all wooden surfaces. Allow the stain to dry2-3 hours. Glue the rectangular foam sheet with wood glue onto thebottom of the base. Glue the 5″ foam circle onto the top of the woodencircle with the wood glue. Peel the backs off the four heavy duty 1″self-stick Velcro® rounds and place onto the foam covered wooden circletop at the four compass points. Peel the backs off both sides of the 2″self-stick Velcro square and attach it to the wooden rectangle base andthe bottom of the plastic container. The final step is to glue the 9″tape measure to one of the 9″×⅜″ sides of the wooden rectangle using thewood glue.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. Toolsand supplies can be immediately stored in the circular plasticcontainer. The braiding bobbins can be stored on the single woodendowel. The present invention produces kumihimo braids that can be madeinto bracelets, necklaces, earrings, lanyards, dog collars, headbandsand any number of other round and flat braided items.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A kumihimo braiding stand comprising: a baseformed to support the stand in an upright position; at least one dowelcomprising a bottom end and a top end, wherein the bottom end is securedto the base; a support ring comprising an upper surface and a lowersurface secured to the at least one dowel, wherein the support ringcomprises an inner edge forming an opening positioned to align with anopening of a kumihimo braiding disc; and a connector operable toreleasably connect the kumihimo braiding disc to the upper surface ofthe support ring.
 2. The kumihimo braiding stand of claim 1, furthercomprising a foam sheet attached to the upper surface of the supportring, wherein the connector is operable to releasably connect thekumihimo braiding disc to the foam sheet.
 3. The kumihimo braiding standof claim 2, wherein the connector comprises a hook and loop fastener. 4.The kumihimo braiding stand of claim 1, further comprising a cupconnected to an upper surface of the base.
 5. The kumihimo braidingstand of claim 4, wherein the cup is releasably connected to the uppersurface by a hook and loop fastener.
 6. The kumihimo braiding stand ofclaim 1, further comprising a plurality of dowels securing the supportring to the base.
 7. The kumihimo braiding stand of claim 1, furthercomprising a separate dowel secured to the base and separate from thesupport ring.
 8. The kumihimo braiding stand of claim 1, furthercomprising a foam sheet attached to a bottom surface of the base.